Lounge chair

ABSTRACT

Lounger beds have a lying surface made of a textile structure clamped into a frame to permit a division of the lying surface into areas with different tension. A textile structure with elastic threads is fastened to longitudinal spars of the frame. The top side, of the longitudinal space has a curved construction form supporting surfaces for the textile structure only in an exterior area. The longitudinal spars have receiving grooves only on the exterior side for the edge of the textile structure to be clamped in.

This application claims the priority of German Patent Document 198 39166.8 filed Aug. 28, 1998, and PCT/EP999/05569 filed Aug. 3, 1999, thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lounger bed with an adjustable lying surfacewhich consists of a frame with transverse spars and bucklinglongitudinal spars and of a textile structure, particularly consistingof elastic threads, which is clamped in at least at the longitudinalspars.

Chairs or lounge chairs are known (German Patent Document DE 44 26 316C1), in the case of which the sitting or the backrest surface is formedof a textile cover which is, in each case, shaped at its edges to form aloop and is pushed by means of these loops onto rod-type spanners which,in turn, are screwed to longitudinal spars of the chair frame. Thisfurther development permits the removal of the cover from the frame, forexample, for the purpose of cleaning.

Loungers are also known in the case of which the cover is placed bymeans of loops at its edges directly around longitudinal spars of theframe. Such covers cannot easily be removed for the purpose of cleaning.

A lounger bed of the initially mentioned type was suggested by theapplicant's Patent Application 198 07 741.6, in the case of which thetextile structure to be used as the lying surface is equipped withelastic threads and, for replacing previously known bed frames, can betensioned to different degrees in different sections between thetransverse spars. The fastening of the covering fabric by means of loopson the longitudinal spars or the like cannot be used for such cases.

It is an object of the present invention to develop the covering framefor a lounger bed of the initially mentioned type such that a simpleholding possibility is provided for the edges of the textile structureforming the lying surface and a possibility is provided to tension thistextile structure to different degrees in different sections.

For achieving this object, it is provided in the case of a lounger bedof the initially mentioned type that the longitudinal spars andpreferably also the transverse spars consist of profile strips with acurved top side, the textile structure reaching over this top side, inthat the curving of the top side slopes down toward the interior of theframe and, only in the exterior area of the frame, supporting surfacesare formed for the textile structure whose edge is introduced intoreceiving grooves on the exterior side of the profile strips and is heldthere.

By means of this further development, it is, on the one hand, possibleto form very stable longitudinal spars or transverse spars which areparticularly necessary if the textile structure is provided with elasticthreads and is clamped in between the parallel extending longitudinalspars and transverse spars while considerable restoring forces areexercised. However, the new further development also offers theadvantage that, because of the supporting surfaces provided in theexterior area of the frame, the elastic supporting surface takes upalmost the full frame surface, so that a very large laying surface isachieved. Because no frame is visible on the surface and the textilestructure is pulled over the surface of the frame, the new furtherdevelopment also results in a very aesthetic appearance. Finally, theclamping-in operation can also be carried out in a simple manner, evenif, in sections distributed along the length of the longitudinal spars,the textile structure is to be tensioned to different degrees.

As a further development of the invention, the receiving grooves arearranged at a distance, that is as small as possible, from the plane ofthe lying surface, and it is provided that the hinge axes for thebuckling points of the longitudinal spars extend in a horizontal planeplaced through the center of the receiving grooves. As the result ofthis further development, the buckling axes for the lying surface aresituated very close to the plane of the laying surface itself, so that,without the arrangement of recesses on the textile structure in thehinge area, a continuous covering of the frame can be achieved, thusalso in the area of the hinge points. During the buckling of the lyingsurface, which can be buckled up to 90° between the backrest part andthe center part, because of the selected further development, nounattractive compressing of the textile structure will occur which,after an extended use, may damage this structure.

As a further development of the invention, the buckling points can beformed by hinge heads which each, in an alignment with the longitudinalspars, are held in the latter, are assigned to one another in pairs and,on their surface, are adapted to the profile contour of the longitudinalspars, for the backrest hinge situated between the center surface andthe backrest surface, one recess respectively, which extends in awedge-shaped manner to the swivelling axis and permits the swivellingmovement, being arranged on the top side and, for a hinge situatedbetween the foot part and the center part, in the buckled position, sucha wedge-shaped gap is provided which is directed downward.

As a further development of the invention, it is now possible toconstruct the receiving groove as a slot, into which the edge of thetextile structure is clamped. In this case, the slot can be formed oftwo adjoining parts which can be screwed to one another. However, it issignificantly simpler for the receiving groove to be adapted to thecross-section of a rod, around which the textile structure is looselywrapped and after the insertion is clamped in the receiving groove. Thisrod can in each case be divided into sections which each extend in theareas between the hinge heads.

As a further development of the invention, at least the longitudinalspars can consist of a hollow profile with a curved top side which, onthe outside, merges into the receiving groove. This hollow profile maybe made of a drawn metal or a plastic profile. However, it is alsopossible to produce the hollow profile from a correspondingly bent sheetmetal strip, as the result of which, without any loss of stability, theweight of the new lounger bed and the manufacturing expenditures can bereduced.

In order to largely avoid problems when applying the textile structureto the frame as the cover, it can finally be provided that the textilestructure is recessed at the corners of the supporting frame and isfastened only on the parts of the transverse spars and the longitudinalspars which extend perpendicularly to one another. This recessed edgearea may, in a simple manner, be covered by a corner covering which isfastened to the longitudinal and transverse spars, so that an attractiveappearance of the new lounger bed is achieved which is to be usedinstead of conventional bedsteads.

The invention will be illustrated in the drawing by means of embodimentsand will be explained in the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a lounger bed according to theinvention with differently aligned sections of the lying surface;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial representation of a sectional view takenalong section plane II—II of FIG. 1 of one of the longitudinal spars,which consists of a drawn profile;

FIG. 3 is a partial representation of the edge of the textile structureaccording to FIG. 2, which forms the lying surface, which edge isprepared for being clamped into the longitudinal spars;

FIG. 4 is a top view of one of the two hinges forming the buckling axisbetween the backrest and the center part at point IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the hinge of FIG. 4 viewed in the direction of thearrow V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of one of the two hinge heads forming the hingeaccording to FIG. 4 viewed in the direction of section VI—VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view of the second hinge head of the hinge according to FIG.4 viewed in direction VII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is the representation of the hinge according to FIG. 5, however,in the buckled condition;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged representation of the corner area IX of FIG. 1,but in the case of an embodiment in which, instead of the drawn profilesaccording to FIG. 2, longitudinal spars are provided which are made ofbent sheet metal;

FIG. 10 is a view of the corner according to FIG. 9 viewed in thedirection of the arrow X of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along Line XI—XI of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a lounger bed which consists of a basic frame 2,which is provided with standing feet 1 and has longitudinal spars 2a andtransverse spars 13, and of a frame 3 which forms a lying surface andwhich in the embodiment shown is covered by an elastic knit 4. The frame3 consists of two longitudinal spars 5, which can be buckled and whichare spaced by means of transverse spars 6. The longitudinal spars 5,which can be buckled, permit in a manner known per se the division ofthe lying surface of the bed into several sections which can be inclinedwith respect to one another at defined angles, as illustrated in FIG. 1.However, the longitudinal spars 5 can also be changed into a flatstraight position, so that the bed has a plane lying surface.

In the embodiment shown, the adjusting of the longitudinal spars takesplace in a known manner by way of an electric drive which is not shownin detail.

The knit 4 clamped into the frame 3, in the embodiment shown—as in thecase of the lounger bed according to the earlier Patent Application 19807 741.6—consists of elastic synthetic threads. This knit can betensioned in a bidirectional manner, and it is inserted, at least in thetransverse direction between the two longitudinal spars 5 in theprestressed condition, into the frame 3, as described in detail in theearlier Patent Application 198 07 741.6. However, the knit can also bebraced in the longitudinal direction between the transverse spars 6which therefore have the same construction as the longitudinal spars 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in addition to being provided with the twotransverse spars 6 at their ends, the longitudinal spars 5 are also ineach case provided in the area of their two hinge axes 9 and 10 withadditional transverse struts. Thus, in the area of the hinge axle 9,which, like the hinge axle 10, is not formed by a continuous axle, butis provided with hinge arrangements 25 only in the area of thelongitudinal spars 5, which hinge arrangements 25 will be explained inthe following, a linking to the basic frame is provided, while, in thearea of the hinge axle 10, an additional transverse stiffening bow 12 isprovided. In this manner, a stable supporting frame is formed which issuitable for holding the inserted knit 4 under a defined tension.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the longitudinal spars 5, which are subjected toconsiderable transverse forces, and also the transverse spars 6 consistof a drawn hollow profile 27 which, in each case, has a curved surface27 a sloping toward the frame interior, which surface 27 a, in the areaof its exterior edge, forms a supporting surface 27 b for the textilestructure 4. This supporting surf ace 27 b changes into a curvaturedescending toward the outside and then into a receiving groove 28 whichis used for clamping in the elastic knit 4. Within the hollow profile27, the receiving groove 28 expands to a chamber 29 of a circularcross-section which is adapted to the cross-section of the round rod 30,specifically such that this round rod 30, together with the edge 4 a ofthe knit 4 wound around it, can be axially introduced into the grooveformed by the chamber 29. As illustrated in FIG. 3, as the result of theconstruction of the receiving groove 28 situated on the exterior side ofthe longitudinal spar 5 with the chamber 29, a clamping edge 31 iscreated against which the edge 4 a folded around the rod is pulled andclamped because the knit 4 is subjected to a tension force in the senseof the arrow 32 (FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 also shows that the transverse stiffening bow 12 is fixedly andin a stable manner joined to the longitudinal spar 5 and can be screwedby means of a screwed connection, which is not shown, by way of abracket 33 to this longitudinal spar 5.

FIG. 2 also shows that the receiving grooves 28 and their chambers 29are arranged as closely as possible to the plane of the lying surfaceformed by the textile structure 3, so that a horizontal plane 49 placedthrough the center of the chambers 29 of the receiving grooves 28 isarranged at a distance a to this lying surface. As will be explained inthe following, the hinge axes 9 (or 10) each extend in this horizontalplane 49. The hinge axes are therefore situated very close to the lyingsurface, which has the advantage that the textile structure, which alsospans the joint points, during the buckling of the longitudinal sparsand therefore during an adjusting of the lying surface, as illustratedin FIG. 1, is subjected to no large length changes in the direction ofthe axis of the longitudinal spars 5. These length changes can thereforebe absorbed by the elastic textile structure 4 without any unattractiveformation of folds which results in wear. Thus, the textile structure 4does not have to be provided with recesses at the hinge points as isotherwise customary.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the hinge 25 at the longitudinal spars 5consists of two hinge heads 34 and 35 which are in each case, on the endface sides, slid into the open longitudinal spars and which are eachprovided with ribs projecting to the side and are pushed, together withthese, into the open hollow space 37 of the hollow profile 27. In thiscase, the hinge head 34 has a hinge bracket 38 with a bore 39 whichextends along the hinge axle 9 and is aligned with a bore 40 in a hingebracket 41 of the hinge head 35, so that a bolt 42 extending in the axle9 can be pushed through the two bores 39 and 40.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show that the two hinge heads 34 and 35 are provided witha surface 34 a and 35 b which corresponds to the contour of the top side27 a of the hollow profile 27. For the hinge 25, which is illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 8, a wedge-shaped recess 50, which tapers to the hinge axle9, is provided on the top side of these adjoining surfaces 34 a and 35a, which recess 50 is in each case formed by diagonal surfaces 43 and 44which extend from the top sides 34 a and 35 a in each case as planesurfaces to the hinge axle 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, by means of this further development, itbecomes possible to fold open the longitudinal spars at the hinges 25 atan angle of up to 90° from the horizontal plane upwards. The hinge headsprovided for the hinge axle 10 between the center part and the foot parthave a similar construction and also have a top side adapted to thecontour of the hollow profiles 27. However, it must be provided in thiscase that these hinge heads permit a swivelling of the center part andthe foot part about an angle of up to 90° in the downward direction,which is not explained in detail but has the result that a wedge-shapedgap is formed similar to the recess 50 on the top side of thecorresponding hinge heads when the center part is swivelled downwardwith respect to the foot part, as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, inboth cases, the wedge-shaped gap between the top sides of the hingeheads in the respectively assigned position of the lying surface remainsso small that no disadvantages arise for the supporting surface in thearea of the hinge axes 9 and 10. The elastic knit can expand or contractcorrespondingly in order to provide the required compensation. Acompressing or fold formation is avoided.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show the construction of a corner 45 of the lounger bedaccording to FIG. 1. It is illustrated that a corner covering 46 isprovided in the area between the longitudinal spars 5 and the transversespars 6 which are otherwise fixedly connected with one another. In thisarea, the knit 4 is provided with a recess which is approximatelyquarter-circle-shaped and extends along the broken line 47, if a sharpcorner edge between the longitudinal spars 5 and the transverse spars 6is to be avoided. This recessed area of the knit 4 is covered by acap-shaped top side 46a of the corner covering 46 which, in a manner notshown in detail, is fixedly connected with the longitudinal andtransverse spars 5 and 6. It is naturally also conceivable to constructthis corner covering 46 such that it can be used for the stableconnection of longitudinal spars 5 and transverse spars 6. However, itis also possible to connect these longitudinal spars 5 and thetransverse spars 6 by a stiffening extending transversely to these.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate that the longitudinal spars 5 andthe—indicated by a broken line in FIG. 10—transverse spars 6 may consistof a bent sheet metal strip 48 which may also be equipped with a curvedsurface provided analogously to the surface 27 a of the drawn profile 27and with a receiving groove 28 provided on its exterior side, whichreceiving groove 28 merges into the chamber 29 for receiving the rod 30with the folded-around knit 4. Also in this case, the same prerequisitesapply to the clamping-in and the function which were explained by meansof FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the manufacturing of the longitudinal andtransverse spars from a bent sheet metal strip reduces the weight of thelounger bed and its manufacturing expenditures.

As mentioned above, in all embodiments, an elastic knit 4 was providedfor forming the lying surface which can be tensioned in a bidirectionalmanner and therefore, as also mentioned above, has significantadvantages for the lying surface of a bed. However, the invention canalso be used when a textile structure of a different type is provided,such as a fabric covering without any elastic threads. For the clampinginto the receiving grooves, it is important that the textile structureis held in the frame under a certain prestress which will then providethe required locking in the chambers 29.

Naturally, it would also be conceivable to, instead of using theillustrated construction, not place the textile structure by means ofits edge 4 a around a rod 36 and then clamp it into a groove, but toconstruct the receiving groove 28 as a clamping slot with essentiallyparallel walls, into which the edge 4 a is then introduced and isclamped in, for example, by the screwed connection of two jaws formingthe clamping slot. However, the illustrated embodiment has advantagesparticularly if, as mentioned initially, the textile structure isprovided with elastic threads and is to be tensioned to differentdegrees in different sections along the length of the longitudinalspars.

What is claimed is:
 1. Lounge bed with an adjustable lying surfacecomprising: a frame with transverse spars and buckling longitudinalspars, and a textile structure, wherein each of the longitudinal sparsdefine a profile strip with a curved longitudinal spar top side, thetextile structure reaching over the curved longitudinal spar top side,wherein each longitudinal spar top side has a curvature which slopesdown toward an interior of the frame such that supporting surfaces forthe textile structure are formed only in an exterior area of the frame,and wherein an edge of the textile structure is introduced into and heldin a receiving groove at the exterior side of each of the profilestrips.
 2. Lounge bed according to claim 1, wherein each of thetransverse spars define a profile strip with a curved transverse spartop side, the textile structure reaching over the curved transverse spartop side, wherein each transverse spar top side has a curvature whichslopes down toward the interior of the frame such that supportingsurfaces for the textile structure are formed only in the exterior areaof the frame, wherein the edge of the textile structure is introducedinto and held in the receiving groove at the exterior side of each ofthe profile strips, and the textile structure is tensioned in thelongitudinal and transverse direction.
 3. Lounge bed according to claim2, wherein the buckling longitudinal spar includes hinge axes forbuckling points thereof, and wherein each of the receiving grooves arearranged closely adjacents to the plane of the lying surface, and thehinge axes for the buckling points of each of the longitudinal sparsextend in a horizontal plane placed through the center of each of thereceiving grooves.
 4. Lounge bed according to claim 2, wherein thereceiving groove of each of the longitudinal and transverse spars leadsinto a slot into which the edge of the textile structure is clamped. 5.Lounge bed according to claim 2, wherein the receiving groove mergesinto a chamber whose cross-section is adapted to the cross-section of arod around which the edge of the textile structure is loosely folded andis locked in the chamber.
 6. Lounge bed according to claim 1, whereinthe buckling longitudinal spar includes hinge axes for buckling pointsthereof, and wherein each of the receiving grooves are arranged closelyadjacent to the plane of the lying surface, and the hinge axes for thebuckling points of each of the longitudinal spars extend in a horizontalplane placed through the center of each of the receiving grooves. 7.Lounge bed according to claim 6, wherein the buckling points for thelongitudinal spars are formed of hinge heads which are aligned with andheld in the longitudinal spars, and are assigned to one another inpairs, and are adapted on their top side to the profile contour of thelongitudinal spars.
 8. Lounge bed according to claim 7, wherein thetextile structure has a continuous construction in the area of thehinges.
 9. Lounge bed according to claim 6, wherein the receiving groovemerges into a chamber whose cross-section is adapted to thecross-section of a rod around which the edge of the textile structure isloosely folded and is locked in the chamber.
 10. Lounge bed according toclaim 1, wherein the receiving groove of each of the longitudinal sparsleads into a slot into which the edge of the textile structure isclamped.
 11. Lounge bed according to claim 10, wherein the slot isformed of two parts which adjoin one another and can be screwed to oneanother.
 12. Lounge bed according to claim 1, wherein the receivinggroove of each of the longitudinal spars merges into a chamber whosecross-section is adapted to the cross-section of a rod around which theedge of the textile structure is loosely folded and is locked in thechamber.
 13. Lounge bed according to claim 7, wherein the rod is dividedinto sections which extend the length of the longitudinal spars to thehinge heads.
 14. Lounge bed according claims 1, wherein the textilestructure has a continuous construction in the area of the hinges. 15.Lounge bed according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal spars and thetransverse spars consist of a hollow profile with a curved top sidewhich merges on the outside into the receiving grooves of each of thelongitudinal and transverse spars.
 16. Lounge bed according to claim 15,wherein the hollow profile of the longitudinal and transverse sparsconsists of a drawn metal or a plastic profile.
 17. Lounge bed accordingto claim 15, wherein the hollow profile consists of a bent sheet metalstrip.
 18. Lounge bed according to claim 17, wherein the bent sheetmetal strip is made of steel.
 19. Lounge bed according to claim 18,wherein the textile structure is comprised of elastic threads. 20.Lounge bed according to claim 1, wherein the textile structure isprovided with a recess on the corners of the supporting frame and isfastened only to the parts of the transverse and longitudinal sparswhich are fixedly connected to one another.
 21. Lounge bed according toclaim 20, wherein the area of the recess is covered by a corner coveringwhich is fastened to the longitudinal and transverse spars.
 22. Loungebed according to claim 1, wherein the textile structure consists ofelastic threads.
 23. Lounge bed according to claim 1, wherein thetextile structure is comprised of elastic threads.
 24. A spar memberwhich in use forms a tensioning frame for a textile structure of alounge bed, said spar member being a hollow profile member comprising: acurved top side which slopes downwardly toward an interior frame spacewhen in an in use position on a lounge bed, a textile structuresupporting surface section adjacent a top part of the curved top side,and a receiving groove for the textile structure which is adjacent thesupporting surface section and facing away from an interior frame spacewhen in an in use position in a lounge bed.
 25. A spar member accordingto claim 24, wherein the receiving groove merges into a chamber whosecross-section is adapted to the cross-section of a rod around which theedge of the textile structure is loosely folded and is locked in thechamber.
 26. Lounge bed with an adjustable lying surface which consistsof a frame with transverse spars and buckling longitudinal spars and ofa textile structure comprising elastic threads, which is clamped in atleast at the longitudinal spars, wherein the longitudinal spars compriseprofile strips with a curved top side, the textile structure reachingover the curved top side, in that the curvature of the top side slopesdown toward the interior of the frame, and in that supporting surfacesfor the textile structure are formed only in the exterior area of theframe, the edge of the textile structure being introduced into receivinggrooves at the exterior side of the profile strips and being held there;and wherein the transverse spars comprise profile strips with a curvedtop side, the textile structure reaching over the curved top side, inthat the curvature of the top side slopes down toward the interior ofthe frame and supporting surfaces for the textile structure are formedonly in the exterior area of the frame, the edge of the textilestructure being introduced into receiving grooves at the exterior sideof the profile strips and being held there, and in that the textilestructure is tensioned in the longitudinal and transverse direction. 27.Lounge bed according to claim 26, wherein the lying surface isadjustable and the receiving grooves are arranged as closely as possibleto the plane of the lying surface, and in that the hinge axes for thebuckling points of the longitudinal spars extend in a horizontal planeplaced through the center of the receiving grooves.
 28. Lounge bedaccording to claim 26, wherein the receiving groove leads into a slotinto which the edge of the textile structure is clamped.
 29. Lounge bedaccording to claim 26, wherein the receiving groove merges into achamber whose cross-section is adapted to the cross-section of a rodaround which the edge of the textile structure is loosely folded and islocked in the chamber.
 30. Lounge bed with an adjustable lying surfacewhich consists of a frame with transverse spars and bucklinglongitudinal spars and of a textile structure comprising elasticthreads, which is clamped in at least at the longitudinal spars, whereinthe longitudinal spars comprise profile strips with a curved top side,the textile structure reaching over the curved top side, in that thecurvature of the top side slopes down toward the interior of the frame,and in that supporting surfaces for the textile structure are formedonly in the exterior area of the frame, the edge of the textilestructure being introduced into receiving grooves at the exterior sideof the profile strips and being held there; and wherein the longitudinalspars and the transverse spars, consist of a hollow profile with acurved top side which merges on the outside into the receiving groove.31. Lounge bed according to claim 30, wherein the hollow profile of thelongitudinal and transverse spars consists of a drawn metal or of aplastic profile.
 32. Lounge bed according to claim 30, wherein thehollow profile consists of a bent sheet metal strip comprised of steel.